1. The Government of the Philippines has been granted a loan from the World Bank towards the cost of the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to payment for the cost of hiring an SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS OFFICER.

2. The PRDP­ RPCO 7, hereunder referred to as the End User, now request interested applicants to submit Expressions of interest for the HIRING OF INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT namely:

The SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS OFFICER will ensure the compliance and implementation of Social Safeguards policy of the Project. Specifically, the Environmental Safeguards Officer will be tasked to undertake the following

JOB DESCRIPTION/DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Ensure effective installation and implementation of social safeguards framework and grievance redress mechanism at municipal, provincial and regional levels;
2. Develop and maintain the grievance redress database/registry;
3. Serve as safeguards advisor to other regional Social Safeguards Specialist/Focal Persons to ensure alignment among all project components on Safeguards related issues;
4. Conduct appraisal and review of Feasibility Study, Detailed Engineering Design and Business Plan to check compliance to Social Safeguards Frameworks and recommend appropriate measures in the Environmental and Social Management Plan;
5. Review and monitor the implementation of Abbreviated Resettlement Plan;
6. Lead in the conduct of spot monitoring of subprojects and evaluation of safeguards compliance;
7. Conduct of post review of subprojects issued with NOL by the Regional Program Coordinating Office;
8. Prepare and submit timely and regular progress reports indicating status of full compliance with social safeguards framework/policy; and
9. Perform other task as Unit Head, Project Director/Deputy Project Director may assign

1. Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in the environmental sector, preferably assessing social impacts of infrastructure or agriculture projects and environmental management;
2. Knowledge on Philippine Environmental Laws, Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System, Indigenous People’s Right Act (IPRA Law), Land Acquisition Processes and any local related laws and policy;
3. Prior familiarity with World Bank Safeguards Policies;
4. Knowledge on social impact assessment and to formulate environmental and social management plan;
5. Possess a strong academic background with a Bachelor degree or has earned units leading to Agriculture, Environmental Science, Agricultural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Development Management and related fields of study;
6. Possess good moral and written communication skills;
7. Proficiency in standard computer softwares (Word, Excel, Presentations, Databases and Internet);

IN ADDITION, THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE:

1. Strong interpersonal and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams;
2. Strong inter-organizational management skills in working with other components of PRDP;
3. A drive for results while working with limited supervision and under tight timelines;
4. Willingness to conduct field travels

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY:

The Social Safeguards Officer will be directly reporting to the Social and Environmental Safeguards Unit Head with close coordination to the other Components of PRDP. The Social and Safeguards Officer will be based at the Regional Project Coordinating Office, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. VII, Mandaue City

4. Bidding procedures will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the World Bank Guidelines and taking into consideration the rated provisions in the Project Loan Agreement and Guidelines in the Procurement under the IBRD loans and IDA credits. The individual consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedure set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, May 2011.

5. All Expressions of Interest (EOIs) together with Curriculum Vitae and all necessary documents must be delivered in hard copies placed in a sealed enveloped marked:” HIRING OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES (INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS)” SOLICITATION NO. Solicitation No. RPCO-7-SIC-09-17.

6. Expression of Interest (EOI) must be delivered at the address below not later than 5: 00 P.M. of February 23, 2017. SBAC Secretariat Office Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No.7 DA¬RFO 7 Complex, Highway Maguikay, Mandaue City.

7. The PRDP- RPCO 7 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and to annul the selection of Individual Consultants (SIC) process of reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder/bidders.